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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: spell · last · snap · fall · firm · cap · current · plane

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. snap — to click
  4. current — of water
  5. firm — steady
  6. last — finally
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. fall — to drop
  9. cap — a lid
  10. current — happening now
  11. fall — to drop
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. spell — a short time
  15. spell — letters
  16. current — electric
  17. fall — the season
  18. firm — a company
  19. last — to go on
  20. cap — of ice
  21. spell — magic
  22. firm — decided
  23. last — final
  24. cap — a hat

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com